Written by Beverley Lennon

Have you ever wondered about the indigenous tribal people living in some of the most remote and secluded corners of Indonesia?

While we are busy scrolling through our social media feed, they are busy hunting for tonight’s dinner, building their tree-homes, tattooing themselves, dancing and chanting as they celebrate traditional rituals they still practise today.

What if we say, you can actually visit some of them?

Tips:

1. Some tribes can be dangerous to visit, so you might need a guide! 2. Given the difficult logistics of reaching the tribes, most organised tours are spread over 7-10 days. 3. Some are accessible on a day trip or shorter tours. 4. Please ensure that you are in proper physical conditions for all sorts of trekking and hiking involved. Consult your doctor if necessary. 5. Please note that very often, tour rates published online differ from rates quoted for local Indonesians, so you might want to contact the operators directly to look out for their current deals!

Our safety level scale rates the tribes from 5/5 (the safest) to 1/5 (the least safe) to visit.

Read More:

1. Pregnant women are sent to the forest to give birth – Korowai Tribe

In a world where babies are now welcomed with the luxury of a warm filled bathtub, it is indeed captivating to learn about the Korowai Tribe – one where pregnant women are sent alone, far from their homes and deep down into the jungle to give birth all by themselves!

These hunter-gatherers in West Papua have been living up in treehouses for centuries in order to avoid attacks from rival clans, and it is only in the 1970s that they got to know about the existence of other people like us.

Korowai Tribe value religion and believe in the existence of spirits as well as reincarnation; they pay special tribute and respect their ancestors by celebrating with occasional feasts.

As Korowai people don’t have medication that can cure jungle diseases, their life spans are often short, so the village has very few elderly (most of them live till middle age) but expect lots of kids!

Living with little knowledge about the outside world, it has been said that the tribe is no longer practicing cannibalism (only for ritual purposes) and has sadly become attractions for the crowds of sensation-hungry tourists.

On an even sadder note, in recent years, the Indonesian government has been building cities right in the middle of the rainforest, as well as roads towards the Korowai, so it might be possible that the tribe might become endangered in future.

2. Former cannibals but great artists – Asmat Tribe

You have probably heard of the Asmat Tribe and the disappearance of Michael Rockefeller, the son of an American governor who was gutted and eaten. But know that before their beheading rituals were publicised, these indigenous people have been famous for their remarkable skills in wood carving.

Declaring themselves as the descendants of God, this ethnic group lives in the deep unexplored regions of Papua, surrounded by lush forests and rivers of crocodiles flowing around their primitive houses.

In the past, the men needed to hunt for the head of an enemy and offer the body for cannibalistic consumption in order to prove his manliness, but not anymore!

Today, the tribal men are less notorious and are known for their decorative headdresses that are adorned with bundles of feathers, representing a distinctive tribal group with its own traits, costumes and art.

With decorative skulls hanging around, we agree that it might be disturbing to visit the Asmats but the experience is nevertheless an eye-opening one as you immerse in a different way of life. A simpler one? We doubt so…

3. The sea gypsies with impressive diving skills – Bajau Tribe

If you think tribes only live in the deep jungles, you will be surprised to read about the Bajau people, who live right on the seas.

Right on the coastal areas of Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia, the Bajau Tribe (also known as the sea gypsies) is a fascinating group of mobile maritime people who spend their whole life at sea, where the ocean is their playground and hunting ground!

Believe it or not, the Bajau people have developed unique physical capabilities that enable them to see better, clearer, as well as dive and hold their breath underwater, longer than any of us can.

Being in the water is so important to them that they even deliberately rupture their eardrums at a young age, so you’ll realise that some of the older folks might be a little hard of hearing.

And when they are off hunting in the depths of the ocean, all they need are handmade wooden goggles, spear guns from boat timber, tyre rubber and scrap metal. These seem to be adequate enough for their military precision underwater.

When they return to shore, they will surprise you with an array of crustaceans you never knew could be eaten!

Price Range:From USD 350 per boat charter per dayRecommended tour guide/tour company: Mr Seto (It is highly recommended to reach the tribe with the simple help of a fisherman for an authentic experience- Mr Seto will help to organise!)Contact: +62 811 401 449Getting there: You need to fly to Matahora Airport at Wangi-wangi Island. There are daily flights from Jakarta, Bali and Makassar. From the island, you need to get a boat (can a be a tour operator or a fisherman) and cruise all the way to the Bajau community. The boat trip to the Bajau tribe takes almost 2 hours.Location of village: Sampela Bajau Village Coordinates hereRecommended time to visit: March to NovemberSafety level for travellers: 5/5To pack: Sunscreen!

4. No modern technology allowed, 4 hours from Jakarta – Baduy Tribe

Yes, this tribe rejects all forms of modern technology, such as phones, cameras and other electronics.

With an ultra-simplistic way of life, the Baduy Tribe live in voluntary isolation and receives no education, no healthcare and does not rely on any sort of government. They focus on a unique set of cultural and religious practices rather than laws and regulations from the government, thus effectively sealing their community off from the rest of the world.

Visiting the Baduy Tribe is like a complete digital detox so do not expect loads of snapshots from there, a peek of the phone or camera will upset them!

Although the route to the Baduy community is scenic, it’s not an easy one – you will need to hike for around 10 kilometres before meeting them, and we strongly advise you to wear proper hiking shoes for safety purposes.

While there, consider contributing to the community by purchasing their handicrafts. A range of fabrics, scarves and accessories are for sale to visitors – you can even see the tribal women handmaking their pieces.

Tip: While you can visit the Outer Baduy villages after obtaining a permit and provided you go with a guide, note that foreigners are NOT allowed to enter Inner Baduy, a sacred place and home to a mountain which, if not looked after, will mean the end of the world (according to the Baduy)!

Baduy Tribe

Price Range:From USD 175 per person (2D1N Package, inclusive of meals, accommodation, transfers)Recommended tour guide/tour company: Adventure Tour Travel IndonesiaContact: +62 819 1599 4208Getting there: 4 hours’ drive from Jakarta (you need a guide to get you the requisite travel permit and to take you into the Badui forest. The permit is usually ready in less than an hour. Guides available along the way to the villages too.)Location of villages: Kanekes, Leuwidamar, Lebak Regency, Banten 42362, Indonesia Coordinates hereRecommended time to visit: October- Baduy FestivalSafety level for travellers: 3/5To pack: Insect repellent and hat!

5. A journey through the prehistoric Stone Age – Dani Tribe

Deep in the highlands of the Baliem Valley in Irian Jaya (a very remote land that’s difficult to reach), you will find a former cannibalist community – the Dani Tribe, who live with the Yali and Moni (two other indigenous tribes).

While modernisation has brought changes to the tribe, their basic beliefs and customs have been referred to as some of the most interesting.

Till today, the Dani tribe believes in respecting the spirits of the ancestors. In a community where pigs play an important role, each celebration dedicated to ancestors is concluded by an ultimate pork feast.

The tribe holds a liberal view towards clothes, which is considered as another unique custom of theirs – while visiting, you will notice men wearing an unusual piece of underwear commonly known as the Koteka (a sheath to cover genitals made from dried out gourd).

The Dani tribal women are extraordinary too – notice some of them have severed fingers fingers due to an ancient funeral practice where women voluntarily mutilate their fingers when a family member dies, as a form of mourning. This tradition is now banned.

With such unique traits and customs, the Dani Tribe is surely fascinating to interact with, and you should consider visiting in the month of August – this is when you get to witness the annual Baliem Valley Festival held in Wamena. Besides the rich experience you’ll get as you encounter the tribal cultures, it’s also a prime time to sample their delicious earth cooking too!

Note: On this special occasion, the various tribes living around the Baliem Valley area send groups of representatives to showcase their traditions, dances and cultures, and festivities end with a series of mock battles.

You will need to be a little adventurous to visit the Yali Tribe, their community is one that is difficult to get to and trekking there can be very strenuous.

They live in a more mountainous area where lush rainforest has taken over, making it an isolated yet challenging village to access.

The Yali Tribe has long been notorious for their dreaded cannibalistic practices – they used to eat their enemies and grind their bones to dust before throwing them away in the forest of the valley.

Like the Dani Tribe, the Yali men are accustomed to wearing gourds that cover their genitals while women are left bare-breasted with short and small skirts. Every four years, a layer is added to their skirts. Once they have four layers to their skirts, it means that the girl is old enough to get married.

Note: Although visiting this tribe would be a truly fascinating and wonderful experience, we highly recommend going with a tour guide for safety reasons. Past travellers have shared experiences of how the tribe did not want to let them leave.

7. The greatest ocean hunters – Lamalera Tribe

Known as one of the last two whaling villages of Indonesia, the Lamalera Tribe has been hunting the oceans for numerous centuries till now, and though this practice is illegal in the rest of Indonesia, the tribe has been granted special permission from the government to carry on with their ocean hunting rituals.

While they are allowed to do so for their survival and preservation of culture and traditions, they are strongly forbidden to take advantage of this permission for commercial sales, with conservationists watching closely.

For their hunting, the Lamalera Tribe uses very few modern technologies; they still focus on what we call ‘sustainable hunting’ to kill up to 20 sperm whales per year. A few traditional wooden boats, harpoons and ropes will do the job.

Visitors find it specially impressive to assist to the Lamalera Whale Hunting Festival in early May and June. Watch the tribal men throw their full body into the sea and fiercely spike their prey with their long bamboo spear!

A fruitful hunt at the Lamalera Tribe does not only involve sperm whales but dolphins and mantas too.

Along with the next village, the Lamalera Tribe summarises their day through a barter system – they exchange their flanks of sea animals for vegetables and rice.

Price Range:From Rp. 6,500,000 per person (For 3D2N Package including transfers, accommodation, full board meals and whale hunting tour)Recommended tour guide/tour company: Mr AntonContact: +62 821 4487 3755Getting there: Fly from Bali or Lombok to Maumere at the Frans Seda airport. From Maumere, go to Larantuka by bus. From Larantuka, the only way to get to Lamalera is by ferry to Lewoleba (which is available every day), or directly to Lamalera from Larantuka via a weekly ferry service.Location of village: Wulandoni Lembata Regency East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia (Coordinates here)Recommended time to visit: May to September – Whale hunting seasonSafety level for travellers: 5/5To pack: Sunscreen, hat and water bottles!

8. One of the happiest tribes of Indonesia – Abui Tribe

Welcome to one of the happiest tribes of Indonesia.

Once you reach the village of Takpala, you will be greeted with a traditional dance and women chanting along. Visiting the Abui Tribe would be an enriching experience as you get to immerse in a well-preserved tribal culture.

Look out for Mama Amalia – she is known for all the good she does for the tribe. Needless to say, she’s extremely hospitable too!

She has also helped to contribute to the preservation of the Abui language as well as its oral history by writing fables that actually got published! If you enjoy tribal fables, you can read them here (written in Bahasa Indonesia).

Sadly, the efforts from Mama Amalia are not enough. The tribe is being pressurized by other Indonesians to give up on the Abui language and adopt Bahasa Indonesia for daily use. As a result, the language is slowly dying.

Due to the development of their village for visitors, it seems that the Abui Tribe is one of the most approachable tribe in Indonesia, but they remain quite poor and living conditions appear harsh as kids have noticeable signs of malnutrition.

Besides being former headhunters, what is intriguing about the tribe is their spiritual beliefs in a supernatural power – an invisible force referred to as “Semangat”.

“Semangat” is believed to rule the lives of humans as well as plants and animals! However, in today’s society, many Dayak people have adopted Christianity.

Both men and women of the tribe are easily recognised by their incredible tattoos and large earrings that deform their earlobes, but their colourful clothings adorned with insect wings, mother-of-pearl pieces, feather dressings as well as animal teeth don’t go unnoticed!

10. Dracula women and traditional badass tattoos – Mentawai Tribe

Due to centuries of isolation, the Mentawai Tribe has established a community that builds intimate relationships with the forest.

Known as one of the oldest tribes in Indonesia, the Mentawai people hold traditional beliefs steeped in animism, though many converted to Christianity throughout the years. The tribe believes that everything that surrounds us has a spirit and soul. Then again, who knows…?

More than just a creative piece of art, the tattoos of the Mentawai Tribe actually symbolize the sacred balance between foresters and nature.

Another fascinating ritual is the teeth sharpening ceremony (called Kerek Gigi) among women of the tribe. In order to be considered beautiful, the tribal women get their teeth sharpened soon after they hit puberty or right before getting married. And the most amazing thing is, they go through this painful process without any form of anesthesia.

11. Forced to lose their faith and nomadic life – Orang Rimba

Traditionally leading nomadic lives, the Orang Rimba used to survive on hunting for wild pigs for food. Tribal kids could be seen roaming around the forests bare-chested, guided by spirits, gods and goddesses.

But in recent years, their lives have undergone many changes.

With their faith and way of life not being recognised by the local government (especially their practices of hunting and eating wild pigs, which is strictly forbidden for Muslims, and Indonesia is a Muslim-dominated country), the Orang Rimba community has been subject to obligatory conversions to state-approved religions, primarily Islam.

Conversion to recognized religions has been the only way for them to be eligible for equal opportunities available for those in the “outside” world.

Now, you can spot the kids instead dressed in white, sitting in rows and devoting themselves to their new religion. The Orang Rimba also have to strive to find new homes due to the ongoing developments for palm oil plantations.

Although many of them now own rubber plantations, the Orang Rimba tribe still tries to maintain their nomadic lives and carry on with their hunting practices while the government takes over the faith of the vulnerables – the kids.

Orang Rimba

Getting there: Fly to Jambi. From the airport, drive for 4 hours to Bukit Duabelas National ParkLocation of village: Bukit Duabelas National Park (Coordinates here)Recommended time to visit: Anytime throughout the year (Do so before they disappear from the forest!)Safety level for travellers: 5/5To pack: Your politeness and genuine self!

Discover another mystical side of Bali – Bali Aga villages are unlike other parts of The Land of the Gods.

With a set of unique traditions and ways of life, the tribe is known to be of a secretive origin who are completely centered on the worship of powerful forces of nature. Linked to a few aspects of Hinduism, the Bali Aga community also practises cremation ceremonies during their funeral rituals, but they remain unlike any other culture on the island.

You can find this tribe in the villages of Tenganan and Trunyan, which are located in Candidasa and Amed respectively.

You might want to visit between the months of May and June to catch their annual native celebrations like the Makare Kare – a three-day combat of the tribe members. The ritual involves a fierce competition where fighters are armed with razor-sharp weapons that can greatly injure and cause great pain and bloodshed.

Note: Due to their unique set of customs and traditions, the tribe is occasionally not welcoming of visitors and exploring here unattended can result in violence if the traveler is unaccustomed to the ways of the Bali Aga.

Tips, Tricks, Do’s and Don’ts when interacting with indigenous tribes in Indonesia

Dos

1. Be mentally prepared to rough it out, as many tribes do not have basic comforts we are used to.2. It is normal to be scared, give yourself and themselves time to connect with each other.3. Be your true self while visiting, show your interest for them and learn from them.4. Be present throughout the experience, they expect you to enjoy your time with them.5. Research about the tribe before your visit to ensure a genuine experience.6. Book a tour or guide to avoid miscommunication and potential scams.7. Share about where you come from, they often want to gain knowledge and learn from visitors.8. Ask for their permission before taking pictures.9. Consider spending few days living with them for an authentic experience.

Don’ts

1. DO NOT assume the tribes understand your lifestyle2. DO NOT inflict your lifestyle and comforts on them (for instance, the use of soap – the tribe will not find such comfort once you leave and it might disrupt their everyday lives)3. DO NOT Try to make them fit into the outside society (avoid influencing them to use devices and other daily comforts that are essential to us)4. DO NOT be judgemental, every tribe has its own customs, so be a good observer.

Tips from the TripCanvas team:

1. For the tribe to benefit from your trip, visit them with a longer-term interest, for a study and immersion in their cultures rather than visiting and staring at them like tourist attractions and objects. 2. We highlighly discourage mass tourism and encourage individual immersion. Consider longer stays than coming and going for sightseeing!

The following are supported by:Blue: From Asoka, an Indonesian social influencer who has visited many Indigenous tribes and other isolated areas of Indonesia.Red: From Shinta, a documentary/short film maker for Asa Film who has lived with indigenous tribes for months.

Have you visited any of these intriguing indigenous tribes? Let us know which one is on your bucket list and why! Don’t forget to tag your ultimate adventure partner!

Aroused by raging rapids, perilous peaks and cheesecake. Beverley lives and breathes for travel and there is no way her wanderlust will ever be appeased. Born with feet in the water, many know her as the travel junkie, but feel free to refer to her as the luxury spots connoisseur or island specialist, both suit her very well. Her latest credit card statement could be proof of just how much she loves travelling the world. Besides collecting coins and notes from countries she visits, Beverley also collects tan lines!